Problems with private educational institutions on the mainland are not confined to universities, with a senior Ministry of Education official pledging yesterday the government would spare no effort to rectify the regulation of private high schools.

The ministry recognises about 80 such schools, but another 1,300 lacking recognition are in operation.

Wang Jiping, deputy director of the ministry's vocational education department, said 30.8 billion yuan had been set aside for a student aid fund for 18.1 million poor students in vocational high schools in the coming year. 'Students from private high schools can benefit from this programme,' he said. 'But we accept only schools that are recognised by the ministry.'